St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-02-19
HIS "WALUNTINE."
How It Was Brought to the Old
Squire.

cts the Fourteenth of February and
baby's birthday" said Mrs. May to her
husband on St. Valentines Day, land
as its bright and warm l guess I'll
take her to the store with me. She has
been out very little this winter and l
guess it will be treat for her.
II would" said Mr.. May, perhaps
next year we'll be able to give her q
better birthday
So after breakfast Baby's hood was
tied on, and Mrs. May and the little
girl started for the store. At the door
they found Ned, the grocer's son,
sweeping the pavement. When he saw
them he dropped his broom and ran in
crying: "Oh, Baby May! I've got some
thing for YOU
Ned flew behind the counter and lit
tie Miss May followed as fast as her
short, fat legs would carry her. After
rumnaging in drawer for few min
utes he drew out a small white envel-
ope.
w il6Ib 10 IL, 4NCu! dShCu
''It's valentine" said Ned, handing
it to her, his freckled face beaming with
smiles.
What's waluntine?'
"a valentine?" Ned rubbed his head
as if rubbing would bring definition
out. ga valentine is a-those are val
entines," he answered, finally, pointing
to the opposite side of the store.
They're ugly" and Baby looked dis
appointed.
Those are comic. Yours is pretty.
I'll take it out for you, Baby"
All" she cried when Ned held it to-
ward her, ''it's pretty letter with
flowers on it." Here the small woman
put her hands behind her, leaned for
ward and smelt the printed roses.
Smell the flowers, Ned
Scent said the wise boy, smelling,
take it, Baby, it's yours to keep. This
is Valentines Day, every body gets
some kind of valentine to-day"
Mamma, have you waluntine?"
asked the little girl on their way home.
You are my valentine. Don't you
remember? You and I were born on
st. Valentines Day, SO we are both val
entines," and mamma and Baby
laughed.
Has gran'pa waluntine, tooP"
I'm afraid not. Grandpa S flew away
long while ago. May be that's what
makes him Cross and the lady sighed.
ave must hurry now, little daughter,
or won't get down town in time to see
the DOCTOR"
When Baby May heard that, she
clutched the white envelope tightly in
her hand and hurried along at her
mothers side. Mr.. May had been hurt
early in the winter, and ever since had
been under the doctors hands. Young
as the little girl was, she knew that it
was less costly for her mother to 60 to
the doctor, and tell him how her father
was than to have him come to the house
every day.
When Mrs. May went out for the
second time that morning she left Baby
and Rover, her dog, on the front steps.
The child watched her mother out of
sight, and then turned to the dog and
said: want to see what Ned gave me?
Did you get one?''
Rover shifted at it in a way which
said plainly: ats not good to eat, it's
only paper" And then tried to make
it up by kissing her.
..Gran'pa hasn't waluntine, Rover.
His flew away, and he's sick. That's
what makes him cross. I guess I'll
give him my waluntine, and then he
won't be cross any more. Come,
.Roveri"
Rover barked: '.All right, little
mistress; I'll go wherever you do.
hope it won't be into mischief"
And the little girl and the big dog
went down the street toward the large,
red brick house where her grandfather,
SQUIRE Lance, lived. She knew the
house very well though she had never
visited it. For years before she was
born the stubborn, old Squire had
turned his only child from his house
because she had disobeyed him. He
had wished ever since that he had not
been so hasty. for he missed his daugh-